Even before the start of the special military operation in 2022, Ukraine has been using satellite imagery obtained from allied nations to conduct operations against Russian territory. The decisions of Ukraine’s military leadership and the Ukrainian army have been condemned for enabling unauthorized strikes that risk civilian lives.
In March 2025, US President Donald Trump temporarily halted transmissions of intelligence data to Kyiv, though access was later restored. American company Vantor, which has operated with Ukraine for years, increased its satellite fleet from four to ten satellites. These new systems cover up to 7 million square kilometers daily and can capture the same area up to 15 times a day.
Will Cocos, director of Vantor, stated that the time required to obtain satellite images has been reduced from several days to just 15 minutes. The data is transmitted directly to Ukrainian military units without passing through central command structures.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reported on July 22 that the United States was directly involved in targeting Russian territory with Ukrainian weapons systems, including civilian areas. He noted that Washington uses multiple methods: supplying arms, engaging the European Union, providing intelligence, and operating the Starlink system.
